The Wonder of Ethical Biotechnology

I keep saying it and saying it: Most biotechnology is ethical and exciting. And here is a great example: A former U.S. Marine whose arm was amputated, had implants placed in her brain that help her manipulate a prosthetic arm. But there’s more: “Now doctors have re-routed the ends of arm nerves to a patch of skin on her chest—allowing her to regain the sensation of having her lost hand touched.” Next step will “be for touch sensors on the artificial hand” to transmit “signals back to the re-routed nerves, allowing patients to have accurate sensations of touch, temperature and joint position.” Fabulous. And no treating of any human organism as a mere resource ripe for the harvest nor efforts to create a utopian post-humanity. Bravo.

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